Late Surge Secures Victory
The Carolina Panthers defeated the Houston Texans 16-13 on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter when Miles Davis capped a drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a successful kick from Ryan Fitzgerald.
This play extended Carolina's lead to 16-13, a margin they held onto for the final seconds of the game. The victory improved the Panthers' record to 3-1, while the Texans dropped to 0-3. Attendance at the venue reached 72,041 fans for the contest.
Scoring Sequence
The first quarter ended scoreless, with neither team managing to convert drives into points. Action resumed in the second period when Houston's Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Texans an early 3-0 lead. Carolina responded swiftly, with Ryan Fitzgerald drilling a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
Fitzgerald added another 37-yard field goal before the halftime break, putting the Panthers up 6-3. In the third quarter, Fitzgerald extended the lead with a 28-yard field goal, making it 9-3. Fairbairn narrowed the gap with a 47-yard kick, bringing Houston within 9-6 going into the fourth quarter.
